GOLF PUTTER

Abstract: The invention relates to a golf putter having a head (1) with a planar striking face (5). The putter head has aiming assisting means (3, 3', 4, 4') which comprise at least two portions (4, 4') each extending rearwardly with respect to the striking face of the putter head such that when seen from above and in a rearward direction, said two portions (4, 4') diverge outwardly. In order to assist increased accuracy when aiming, the two portions are arranged at such an angle to the striking face that the virtual extension (CG, DG) of each portion in a direction forward of the striking face (5) is substantially tangential to a standard golf ball placed at the striking face.

Description: Title: GOLF PUTTER Field of the invention The invention relates to a golf putter. More particularly the invention relates to a putter head for a golf putter as defined in the preamble of claim 1. Background to the invention A golf putter according to the preamble of claim 1 is known for example from US-A-4 034 989. This document discloses a golf putter having, on the opposite side to the striking face of the putter head, a pair of spaced aligning or "sighting" members which have the function of assisting the golfer to align the ball with the line to the hole. By "striking face of the putter" is hereby meant that face of the putter which is substantially planar and contacts the ball when putting. Whilst the putter of the aforesaid document may provide some assistance for the golfer, the device has some drawbacks. Firstly, the putter head alignment means, i.e. the rearwardly projecting "sights", are designed to give a point of convergence several feet in front of the putter's striking face. This construction, in particular for golfers having problems with concentration, may have a somewhat detrimental effect since the golfer has to concentrate his attention on the ball in order to hit it cleanly, on a point some feet away given by the sights and also on the hole itself (in order to control the motive force for putting the correct distance) . An additional drawback is that the golfer must imagine the lines of sight provided by the aiming means extending through the putter head itself, since the sighting means connect with the putter at points spaced inwardly from the outer edges of the putter. This naturally provides an additional means of distraction for the golfer. Further examples of golf putters having alignment means thereon are also known for example from US-A-3 921 984, US-A-4 650 191 and US-A-4 741 535. One further object of the invention is to use the surface of the ball itself to assist in lining up the way to the hole. Many players use the markings on a golf ball to help them align their putts with the line to the hole, since the ball may be picked up whilst on the putting green (e.g. for cleaning) and replaced in a new orientation at the same location. However, whilst this is claimed to result in increased putting accuracy, full use of all alignment potential of the ball is not in fact effected. Summary of the invention The present invention seeks to solve the above-mentioned objects and problems by providing a putter in accordance with the features defined in claim 1. By arrangement of the aiming assisting means as defined in claim 1, not only is the player able to line up the putter with the marking on the golf ball (as previously) , but two points on the circumference of the ball help to assist in "forming" the virtual arrowhead consisting of the extension of the aiming portions. In this way, the player is able to concentrate his attention on a minimal area around the ball in order to align the putter head and to putt the ball with a clean contact. Thus the player, having taken up his or her putting position, merely has to judge the distance to the hole and then look directly back to the ball without necessarily concentrating additionally on a point a few feet away as well. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined by the features of the dependent claims. Description of the drawings A non-limiting embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.l shows a perspective view of the putter head from above and behind. Fig.2 shows a frontal view, marginally from above in order to depict detail. Fig.3 shows a side-view taken from a position slightly forward of the striking face, Fig.4 shows a plan view of the putter head. Fig.5 shows a plan view on to the striking face, and Fig.6 shows a schematic plan view of the putter head ABCD from above, positioned over a golf hole having centre F. Detailed description of a preferred embodiment The putter head 1 shown in Fig.l comprises a base portion 2 integrally attached to two side portions 3, 3' and a front portion having a striking face 5. Thus the basic form of the putter head is a hollow member open at the rear side. In the embodiment shown the head itself is a one piece unit, cast in a suitable metal, although it is clear that the putter head could be made up of several types of material or individual portions appropriately adjoined with eachother. Substantially in the middle of the putter there is positioned an upstanding web 6 having a line 7 inscribed or otherwise marked visibly thereon. This line is to indicate to the golfer where the "sweet-spot" of the putter is located, when viewing from above, which would correspond to the putting position. Since in the preferred embodiment the head is symmetrical, the line 7 will be positioned midway between the ends of the planar striking face 5. The planar striking face itself may also be slanted as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 for example. The upper edges 4 and 4 ' of side portions 3 and 3 ' are essentially planar and may have an inclination upwards from front to back as shown in Fig.3 for example. However, the importance of the angle that these lines 4 and 4' make with the striking face 5 and also the distance apart of the rearmost point of each of these lines are important aspects of the invention and will be explained further on. Thus the upper edges or lines 4 and 4' need not be planar, but as seen from above must present substantially straight sections. As can be seen more clearly in Fig.2, the underside of the base portion is slightly convex, with the lowest point being substantially in line with the line 7. In this way, rotational forces on the putter head caused by imperfect movement of the putter, such that the centre of the head is not the lowest point, are reduced especially at the edges where the rotational torque is at its greatest. Alternatively the putter head can have a planar base. Similarly the underside of the putter may also be convex as shown in Fig. 3 for example. To the head 1 is also affixed, or integral therewith, a hollow coupling or support stem 10 for fitting to a putter shaft (not shown) . Fig.5 is a true front view of the putter head (not full scale however) and shows, as hidden detail, the web 6 and the upper surface of the base 2. As is clear from Figs. 1, 2 and 5 particularly, the side portions 3 and 3' are shaped in curvilinear fashion upwardly and outwardly from the base. This is preferable from an aesthetic point of view, but also helps to give a more pronounced arrow effect as seen from above, which as will be explained, helps to aim the putter head towards the hole. In Fig. 4, four points A, B, C and D have been identified on the putter head seen from above. When the putter head is placed as shown in Fig. 6 over an imaginary golf hole, the points A and B (the rearmost points of the putter sides) will be a distance apart corresponding to the diameter "x" of said golf hole. According to present golf regulations, this dimension is 108mm. Thus the preferred distance between points A and B is substantially 108mm. The lines AC and BD (corresponding to upper edges 4' and 4 respectively) are to be used as aiming guides for forming an arrow pointing to the correct line for putting the ball to the hole (allowing for break on the green of course) . This is achieved in that the back of the putter (line AB) and the lines AC and BD, extended to their virtual intersection at point G, will form a virtual arrow ABG. Additionally the lines AG and BG are arranged substantially tangential to a standard golf ball 11, placed at the striking face 5 of the putter. The concept of a "standard" golf ball may require some brief explanation since the rules of golf only state that a golf ball should have a minimum diameter of 42.67mm (1.68 inches) and a maximum weight of 45.93g. Thus, no perfect definition of a standard golf ball exists. However, most golf balls are very close to the stated dimension and minor variations of the diameter of the golf ball will not affect the function of the invention to any great extent. What is achieved by this substantial tangentiality using the sides of the ball is that the golfer is more easily able to visualise the full extent of the whole arrow ABG. When one compares this with the two aiming guides provided in the aforementioned US-A-4 034 989 for example, it is clear that a significant assistance is provided to the golfer by using more indication points for forming the triangle. The diagram of Fig.6 also shows a distance "x , corresponding to line GF. This distance is normally equal to the length "x" (the diameter of a golf hole) and thus allows the width "y" of the putter EF to be arrived at in order that all conditions should be fulfilled for the desired "tangential" arrow ABG. However, the distance GF may be chosen such that the line CD is marginally closer to AB than depicted. In such a case, points C and D will not lie on the circle with centre F, but lines ACG and BDG will however still be straight lines. The preferred width of the putter head thus lies substantially between 40 and 45mm, and preferably at 42mm, but variations are of course possible. The significance of the distance between points A and B being substantially that of a golf hole is found in the concept of the so-called "railway track" leading to the hole. In accordance therewith, the golfer uses points A and B to assist in the visual imagination of the start of two parallel tracks (like a railway track) to the hole. The invention assists moreover here in that the line FD which will be readily visualised will provide a further indicator to help this particular visualisation by being a further track aligned with middle of the hole. Such is particularly important for so called straight putts (no break) when the railway track principle with extra guide line FD can be used most easily. Thus the base angles of the triangle ABG thus formed will be between about 63° to 67°, about 65° being preferred. However, as stated, small deviations from this of the order of a few degrees are only of minor importance. This inventive construction of the putter head can also be improved in terms of balance in that said putter head with integral support stem is weighted such that, when fitted to a straight putter shaft and with the thus-formed putter supported at its balance point on the shaft, said putter head remains substantially horizontal. Many variations of the putter head are imaginable and the scope of the invention is not limited to the above described embodiment but can be varied to a great degree within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims: Claims 1. Putter head (1) for a golf putter, comprising a planar striking face (5) , wherein said putter head has aiming assisting means comprising at least two portions (3, 3' , 4, 4') each extending rearwardly with respect to the striking face (5) of the putter head and wherein, seen from above and in a rearward direction, said two portions (3, 3', 4, 4') diverge outwardly, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the virtual extension (CG, DG) of each of said two portions in a direction forward of the striking face (5) is such as to be substantially tangential to a standard golf ball (11) placed at the striking face. 2. Putter head according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the rearmost point (A) of one of said aiming portions (4') is separated from the other (B) " by a distance (x) substantially equal to the diameter of a standard hole on a putting green. 3. Putter head according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said aiming portions (3, 3', 4, 4') are formed in one piece with the putter head. 4. Putter head according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the width (y) of the putter between the striking face (5) and the rearmost edge (AB) is approximately 40 to 45 mm, and preferably about 42 mm. 5. Putter head according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said putter head has a locating line (7) positioned substantially at the centre of said putter head. 6. Putter head according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said putter is formed as a hollowed out member having a centre-locating reference line (7) positioned substantially perpendicular to the striking face (5) and along an upstanding web (6) in the middle portion of said hollow part. 7. Putter head according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the distance between the point (G) of convergence of said virtual extensions (CG, DG) and the centre (F) of a line (AB) joining the rearmost points of said aiming portions is substantially equal to the diameter (x) of a standard golf hole. 8. Putter head according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that putter head is foreseen with an integral hollow support stem (10) for receiving a putter shaft. 9. Putter head according to claim 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said putter head with integral support stem (10) is weighted such that, when fitted to a putter shaft and with the thus-formed putter supported at its balance point on the shaft, said putter head (10) remains substantially horizontal. 10. Putter head according to any preceding claim, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said portions (4, 4') meet the putter striking part substantially at the outer edges thereof, so that the outer edge of each portion has a real point of interection with the outer edge of the striking part. 11. Golf putter having a shaft and a putter head (1) connected thereto, characterized in that said putter head is formed in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.

Inventors: STRAND LENNART, STRAND, LENNART
Applicants: STRAND LENNART, STRAND, LENNART
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A63B69
IPC codes: A63B53, A63B69